Hillingdon Council has created an extra 6,500 places in schools as pupil numbers continue to rise.

Additional to the schools at Lake Farm and on the former RAF Uxbridge (St Andrew’s development), the council has put forward proposals for a brand new, purpose built primary school in the West Drayton/Yiewsley area as part of its commitment to provide the children of the borough with a quality school place near where they live.

This proposal will admit 90 children to reception in three forms of entry and offer part-time nursery places to a further 90.

Construction of the three new schools will see the creation of nearly 1900 school places for children aged 3-11 where they are most needed in the borough.

As part of the criteria to bid for government funding and to secure the necessary finance, the council had to name a potential site for the new school in West Drayton/Yiewsley.

It suggested land off Porters Way/Lavender Rise to meet the ever growing demand for school places in the area.

However, the final site will be determined by the organisation chosen to run the new school and would be subject to a site appraisal and successful planning application.

The council has recently started a process to invite expressions of interest to run all three new schools.

Overall, Hillingdon will get £38.1m, with £19.5m going towards expansion projects at 14 schools and £18.6m for the three new schools.

It won support for the most number of projects - 17 in total – of any London borough following its submission to the Education Funding Agency and will receive £32m more than it originally budgeted for.

Cllr David Simmonds, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Education and Children’s Services, said:  “Providing a quality primary school place and the best possible start for this borough’s children – in the south, middle and north – is an absolute priority for the council.

“It is also essential that these places are as close as possible to where children live and that the site of any new school has sufficient green land so children have quality playing fields as well as first class buildings.

“We have reviewed all the possible sites locally and we believe the land off Porters Way/Lavender Rise is the best option in an area which is experiencing a rapid increase in the number of children of primary school age but the final decision will ultimately be made by the organisation chosen to run it.”    

Hillingdon Council’s £150m investment programme has already delivered new classrooms, libraries, dining facilities and play areas to primary schools throughout the borough and additional facilities will come on board at 11 infant and junior schools this September.